Sectionally composite ceramic kiln



Jan. 13, 1953 s. wElNGRAD 2,624,930

SECTIONALLY COMPOSITE CERAMIC KILN Filed Feb. 7, 1950 I5 Sheets-Sheet l 1 L 1 NL Nm 1 N N 1 N111 N T10 Q Q\\l m. Q m D Q i@ 1m 1 11 w N H 1B .VM h\ E ou 1111 11111 h\ 11111 V G Y FWHHI 111H l .11m-1\\ 1111nn111111111111111111 Q\l I 11111113 111 W. N M n.lnu uw# Q\ rfTm n N\- F.- R @s w n i181 w1; MS .1w 1 T Q M H r |-L S W Jan. 13, 1953 s. wExNGRAD 2,524,930

SECTIONALLY COMPOSITE CERAMIC KILN Filed Feb. 7, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 2,

IN VEN TOR.

.Sm/L WE/NGRHD BY i HTTOR/VEY Patented Jan. 13, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SECTIONALLY COMPOSITE CERAMIC KILN Saul Weingrad, vNew York, N. Y. Application February 7, 1950, vSerial No.`142,867

v3'Claims. 1 'This invention relates to a sectionally-composite ceramic kiln.

`Most ceramic ware requires ya preheating to a `giventemperatureJ firing at a high temperature, gradual reduction to an intermediate precooled temperature, and a nal cooling to room temperature.

y In one type of prior art kiln, which comprises a stationary ware-enclosing oven or furnace having door-controlled openings, the ware is, in a charging operation, moved after stacking from stacked position outside the kiln or furnace to an enclosed position within the kiln in which it is treated, and after treatment the ware is, in a discharging operation, again moved out of the kiln to its initial position Where it is cooled to permit subsequent handling, the ware being usually initially stacked on movable conveying units that are moved with the stacked charge of ware into 'and out of the oven or furnace and both charging and discharging are done whi-le the kiln is in cooled condition.

In another type of prior 'art kilns, known as tunnel kiln, the kiln is also stationary and Ware to be treated is usually's'tacked upon and conveyed in a continuously-moving operation by conveyors such as cars, moving belts, pushers or other conveying devices through a tunnel in said stationary kiln wherein the preheating and firing of the ware at the diierent temperatures required is accomplished by heating varying sections of the kiln 'at varying temperatures and by slowly moving the ware on such devices through such v tunnels or passageways therein.

Tunnel kilns must necessarily be of consider- 'able length with platforms, sidings Yand successively Vconnected parts or sections heated to the varying degrees of temperature required for subjecting the ware during travel therethrough to each 'of the temperatures required to cause the necessary preheating, firing and precooling thereof. The movement on conveying devices through the -`kilns sometimes results 'in wrecks and breakiage of the ware. lThis type of kiln is Aalso 'geared to la'givenrateof travel of the Ware and constant flow 'through the opening with a continuous operation of '24 hours in a day. Certain types require two men Yand 'all types require constant attendance and the use of considerable man power.

In both of these types of kilns, the ware is moved either during ltheh'eat treatment or be- `fore and after suchtreatment and in such-movement fisnecessarily subjec-ted'to a certain degree of vibration or jostling. One -of the objects 'of vmy invention Ais :to avoid 2 Y the movement of `thechai'ge of Ware after the stacking thereof and with this end in view 'l-'provide va kiln including a stationary ware-supporting lsection on which the ware is stacked rand on which, without further movement thereof, said ware is enclosed by a hood section to enable subjection thereof 'to the necessary heat treatment, and 'to enable a batch or la series of batches of ceramic ware such as Crockery to be stackedand to be economically subjected Without movement to the required preheating, ring for maturing or xing of decorations-or pigments and precoolingl temperatures.

Another object of my invention is to accomplish the necessary operations hereinabove referred'to in a relatively small area or space and with a greater economy in labor and other factors Ithan it is possible to obtain for similarcapacities or p-roductions with prior `art`kiln`s, and to Vincrease the work area over the stationary-oventypeoi kiln.

Another object of my invention is not only to avoidthe travel or movement of `the ware during treatment but to enable a'hig'h-heating ofa'batch or charge on one stationary section while another batch or charge on a second stationary section vvis being subjected to a preheating operation.

Another object of my vinvention is vto provide a relatively short kiln of composite structure comprising `a stationary Vcharging and discharging kiln-section or ware-charging and discharging station adapted fto form the 4vfloor section of my composite 'kiln 7and von which 'the ware is initially stacked in a suitable charge or batch combined Withv-a'hood-section comprising 'a relatively Inova-ble iioorless member adapted to lit over andenclose 4saidv charging and discharging section,'t`ogether with the'batch of ware mounted thereon.

`Still another object of my invention is to provide a sectional kilnr construction which is adapted to eifectively position and utilize electrical heating elements to enable the application of 'the heat required to treat a batch or charge of ware.

Still another object lof my invention is ina kiln embodiment ofthe type specied to-utilize'tracks to enable facile movement of my movable fhoodsection,l both in its movement towarda'nd :away from .a `single stationary ware-supporting section or cooperate 4successively with a plurality of Astationary sections. Y

With -these and other robjects in view, the'i'n'- vention comprises the combination fof'm'embers and varrangement of parts so `combined Pas ftogco- Aact 'and cooperate vwitheach other inthe-:Pere

l formance -of the `:functionsand the `accoin'p'lith-'- ment of the results herein contemplated, and comprises in one of its adaptations the species or preferred form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of a composite kiln embodying my invention and having two stationary charging and discharging sections, each adapted to cooperate seouentially with two movable hoodor housing sections comprising a ring section and a preheating-and-precooling section to treat charges or batches of ware;

Fig. 1A is a fragmentary view in side elevation similar to Fig. 1 showing one of the two stationary charging and discharging sections illustrated in said Figure 1 in cooperative relationship with a preheating-and-precooling section;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1

looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1A, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 5/is a, fragmentary view in plan of the high heat housing shown in position over a charging section;

Fig.v 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

' Fig. 7 is a section on the line 'I-'I of Fig. l, looking in the rdirection of the arrows; and

Fig. 8 is a section on the line 8 8 of Fig. 1A,

looking in the direction of the arrows. Referring now to these drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of my invention, I indicates a base structure comprising a track having rails suitably elevated above a floor or other supporting surface 2. As shown. the supporting base structure I is preferably built of a pair of strong, rigid, parallel metallic beams having positioned between the same at least one stationary ware-supporting section or station 3 and being provided with tracks or rails on which is mounted at least one movable hood section 4 or 5 adapted to cooperate with said ware-supporting section 3. Preferably a, plurality of such charging and discharging sections are employed and as illustratedV in Fig. 1 two of these waresupporting sections 3, 3a are arranged on the base or supporting structure I in alignment with each other.

Each of these stationary ware-supporting sections is disposed in a horizontal plane and provided with a horiontal stacking surface preferably comprising a grill member on which a batch or charge of ceramic ware is adapted to be stacked for treatment and thereafter discharged. Each of such ware-supporting sections-together with the form therewith a completely enclosed sectional I kiln in* which the stationary ware-supporting section forms the ware-supporting iioor on which the charge of ware is suitably stacked within given limits xed by the area of the hood sections and .thehood section will provide walls for enclosing at the sides, top and ends of the charge to conne the same and to permit the application to said charge of the heat required in the treatment of the ware.

As illustrated, the two ware-supporting sections 3, 3a are identical in construction and each embodies a table 6 on which is preferably mounted a stacking grill 'I on which a charge or batch 3 of ware, represented in outline by the dot and dash lines in Figs. 1 and 3, is adapted to be stacked.

In the embodiment shown, a series of electrical heating elements 9 are preferably supported on the table 6 below the grill 'I and these heating elements 9 are, as shown, mounted in suitable grooves in a suitable bed of refractory insulatingmaterial In.

In the preferred embodiment of my invention shown, a suitable charge of ware, the dimensions of which will, as aforesaid, be governed by the capacity of the hood section, is stacked on the grill 'I of a ware-supporting section and this ware will then rst be subjected to a preheating operation. This preheating will preferably be accomplished by moving the preheating-and-precooling hood section 4 into the position over the chargesupporting section 3a as shown in Fig. 1A. When the sections are thus in cooperative enclosing positions, energizing of the heating elements 9 will provide a certain low temperature sufficient for .the purpose of preheating the charge 8 of ceramic ware or material.

An veiicient preheating of the charge 8 of ceramic ware requires a complete enclosure of the ware and for this purpose the movable preheating-and-precooling hood-section is mounted on a suitable truck Il which is iloorless, and has at its lower end an opening IIEL that is adapted to fit the edges of the said ware-supporting section while the walls of said hood section enclose said charge or batch of Ware. The truck I I is mounted on four wheels and provided at opposite ends with opening and closure members which, as shown, each comprise double swinging doors i2 mounted on hinges I2a and provided with latching and tightening elements I2b. The preheating-and-precooling hood-section 4 preferably comprises a thin wall structure of metal, such as steel, and lined with asbestos or other heat insulating material and suitably reinforced. In positioning the section 4 one set of the double doors I2 thereof are opened, as shown in dot and dash lines in Fig. 1, and after the stacking of the charge on one of the stationary sections, said movable section 4 is caused to travel along the oor into position over said section 3a so that when the door is closed, the two sections will form a composite kiln which will completely enclose the said charge 8 on all sides, including the front, back, top, bottom and sides thereof. Energizing of the heating elements on the ware-supporting section 3 will now enable a preheating of the charge A8. The floorless hood member 4 is a relatively thin-walled structure and relatively light so as to permit quick and ready movement, and, in the embodiment shown, is arranged to straddle and snugly fit over any one of the waresupporting sections 3, 3a and the roof portion .is preferably provided with suitable vent openings 13. As illustrated, the walls of the hook section 4 are reinforced by angle-irons, and the lower ends of these angle irons are formed into feet and provided with rollers to permit ready movement of the section. n

In the embodiment illustrated, the side edges of the opening in-.the section land the'side edges of the section 3a .are providedwith `interengaging elements and, as shown, the side rails ofthe open .lower vend of the'truck portion are-provided with v.angle ironV members having downwardly projecting flanges lli adapted to t into channel irons I5 Vonthefside edges of the ware-supporting section,

thus providing between the `supporting section 3a and said preheating-and-precooling section i a suitable joint preferably iilled with sand to seal it and which will assist in preventing passage of heat in any'serious amount out of the composite sectional kiln when so connected.

In Figs. 1, 4 and 8 I have shown a preheating- .and-precooling section 4 coop'erating with a waresupporting section 3a and when lthe electrical elements .on Vthe ware-supporting section shown are energized, a` suicient heat may be applied within the composite kiln kso Vformed to Y produce what' is known in the .ceramic art as apreheating :of :the charge of ware.

ythe stationary section, the required temperature for maturing or xing the pigments or designs Y thereon. This section comprises a heavy steelplate structure suitably reinforced and lined at sides, ends and roof by a layer or two layers of refractory nre-brick lining members. As shown,

these'fire-brick walls at both sides and ends are provided with grooves having inlaid within the same electrical heating elements il. This high heat hood section 5 is extremely heavy, and in accordance with my invention, I mount the same upon heavy metal Wheels to enable movement back and forth on tracks I8 mounted on the metallic superstructure I. Tight joints preferably lled with sand are formed between the edges of the opening in the bottom of the hood section 5 and the stationary ware-supporting section received therein. As shown, the side Walls |55, lh are supported at their lower ends on inverted channel members le having flanges tting into the grooves formed by angle-irons on the section 3, the joint between the angular member and said channel iron being such as to prevent the passage of an appreciable quantity of heat therethrough. The lower surfaces of the doors at opposite ends of the hood section 5 are bevelled and close against similarly bevelled surfaces on the ware-supporting section 3 to provide a substantially tight enclosure of said section and the load or charge of Ware supported thereon. In view of the large number of heating elements distributed on the surfaces of the vertical surfaces of the section 5, it will be apparent that a high heat may be procured when the multiple heating elements on the four vertical walls of the high heat hood section are positioned over the heating elements on the Ware-supporting section to cause the charge or load of Ware to be surrounded by heating elements at the bottom and four sides and also to be completely enclosed by heatinsulating Walls.

The high-heat hood section 5 is, as shown, provided in its roof portion with pairs of yflues or vvents I9, 2i) provided with regulating elements 19a, 28a. Said roof portion is composed of a double layer of refractory bricks, the outer layer being locked in place by bars 2i which pass through holes in an inner layer of bricks and are suitably connected at their outer ends to the metallic enclosing casing to securely maintain both layers of the ceiling bricks in place. It will be apparent that my movable high-heating hood section 5 may be used alone in cooperation with one of the stationary ware-supporting sections 3, Sa to provide a complete treatment for a batch of Ware, or that both hood sections 5 and 4 may be used in cooperation with the stationary waresupporting sections 3 and 3a for this purpose.

In onev method of operation, ware may be stacked on the grill 'i of the ware-supporting Asection 3 to produce a charge of proper dimensions as shown in Fig. 1. The high-heating hoodsection 5 carrying its multiplicity of heating elements may be moved on its wheels over the tracks .into cooperating position to provide an'enclosure for the charge of ware thereon, the electrical heating elements of the stationary ware-supporting section 3 may be utilized to procure a preheating temperature, and the heating elements of the high-heating hood-section may then be energized to provide by the heat of the combined elements of the ware-supporting section and of the high-heating hood-section a high temperature Within said enclosure that will be capable of maturing the Ware or fixing the pigments or decorations thereon. Such high temperature within the high-heat section and its duration may be also observed and determined by suitable conventional means and are also regulated by the vents I9, 2t and other conventional means. A reversal of this method will enable a precooling whereupon the high-heating hood section may be moved oi' the charge and the charge-supporting section to permit discharging of the Ware.

In another method of operation, both hood sections 4 and 5 may be used conjointly. For example, during the high-heat treatment of the charge hereinabove described on section 3 in the high-heat hood-section 5, a charge on section 3a may be enclosed by and preheated in the lighter preheating and precooling hood-section 4 by the use of the elements on the ware supporting section 3a. When a proper preheating is accomplished, this lighter hood section 4 may be then removed and replaced by the high-heating section, and if desired, the said lighter hood section may be moved around to section 3 and utilized as a precooling enclosing hood-section therefor.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A sectionally composite kiln embodying, in combination, a supporting surface, a plurality of sections mounted on said supporting surface and comprising a stationary floor section of given dimensions raised above said supporting surface and providedwith a stacking surface for a load of ware, a three dimensional movable hood section comprising a unitary straight-walled vehicle mounted at its lower edges on wheels and having at its bottom portion an opening communicating with a load-enclosing compartment within said vehicle, said vehicle being composed of a top portion, two straight side-Wall portions formed integrally therewith and end wall portions carried by said side wall portions, at least one of said end wall portions comprising a door hingedly `mounted on a side wall portion to permit one end of said vehicle to be opened into communication with said bottom opening and load-enclosing compartment for the reception of a load of Ware stacked on said stacking surface, said open bottom portion hawng dimensions substantially similar to the dimensions of said raised oor section, said hood section being movable edgevvise of and across said raised door section into substantial registration therewith to closely t said open bottom portion and to provide a Waresupporting door for said load-enclosing compartment, said hood and floor section, upon such movement into substantial registration and closing of said door, being adapted to completely enclose a stacked load of Ware, and heating means on one of said hood and ioor sections for heating Ware Within said load-enclosing compartment formed by said movable hood and stationary door sections.

2. A sectionally composite kiln as claimed in claim 1 in which the hood section is composed of heat-insulated walls and carries on its side Walls electrical heating elements to surround a load of Ware on said stationary floor section.

3. A sectionally composite kiln embodying, in combination, a supporting surface, a stationary iioor section of given dimensions raised above said supporting surface and provided with a stacking surface for a load of Ware, a three di mensional movable hood section comprising a unitary straight-Walled vehicle mounted at its lower edges on Wheels and having at its bottom portion an opening communicating With a loadenclosing compartment Within said vehicle, said vehicle being composed of a top portion, two straight side-Wall portions formed integrally therewith and end Wall portions carried by said side wall portions, at least one of said end Wall portions comprising a door hingedly mounted on a side wall portion to permit one end of said vehicle to be opened into communication with said bottom opening and load-enclosing com partment for the reception of a load of ware stacked on said stacking surface, said open bottom portion having dimensions substantially similar to the dimensions of said raised floor section, said hood section being movable edgewise of and across said raised oor section into substantial registration therewith to closely t said open bottom portion and to provide a waresupporting oor for said load-enclosing compartment, said hood and fioor section, upon such movement into substantial registration and closing of said door, being adapted to completely enclose a stacked load of Ware, said load-enclosing compartment being lined with heat-insulation material and the stationary platform section and movable hood section each being provided with independent heating elements to permit initial preheating and subsequent high heating oi. a charge of Ware on the stationary platform section.

SAUL WEINGRAD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile o this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS A FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date France Nov. 22, 1926 Number Number 

